A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 15 eBook

According to Omai’s report of what he learnt
in conversation with his three countrymen, the manners
of these islanders, their method of treating strangers,
and their general habits of life, are much like those
that prevail at Otaheite, and its neighbouring isles.
Their religious ceremonies and opinions are also nearly
the same. For, upon seeing one man who was painted
all over of a deep black colour, and enquiring the
reason, our gentlemen were told that he had lately
been paying the last good offices to a deceased friend;
and they found, that it was upon similar occasions
the women cut themselves, as already mentioned.
From, every circumstance, indeed, it is indubitable,
that the natives of Wateeoo sprung originally from
the same stock, which hath spread itself so wonderfully
all over the immense extent of the South Sea.
One would suppose, however, that they put in their
claim to a more illustrious extraction; for Omai assured
us, that they dignified their island with the appellation
of Wenooa no te Eatooa, that is, A land of
gods; esteeming themselves a sort of divinities, and
possessed with the spirit of the Eatooa. This
wild enthusiastic notion Omai seemed much to approve
of, telling us there were instances of its being entertained
at Otaheite, but that it was universally prevalent
amongst the inhabitants of Mataia, or Osnaburg Island.

The language spoken at Wateeoo was equally well understood
by Omai, and by our two New Zealanders. What
its peculiarities may be, when compared with the other
dialects, I am not able to point out; for, though Mr
Anderson had taken care to note down a specimen of
it, the natives, who made no distinction of the objects
of their theft, stole the memorandum book.

SECTION III.

Wenooa-ette, or Otokootaia, visited.—­Account
of that Island, and of its Produce.—­Hervey’s
Island, or Terougge mou Attooa, found to be inhabited.—­Transactions
with the Natives,—­Their Persons, Dress,
Language, Canoes.—­Fruitless Attempt to land
there.—­Reasons for bearing away for the
Friendly Islands.—­Palmerston’s Island
touched at.—­Description of the two Places
where the Boats landed.—­Refreshments obtained
there.—­Conjectures on the Formation of such
low Islands.—­Arrival at the Friendly Islands.

Light airs and calms having prevailed, by turns, all
the night of the 3d of April, the easterly swell had
carried the ships some distance from Wateeoo before
day-break. But as I had failed in my object of
procuring at that place some effectual supply, I saw
no reason for staying there any longer. I therefore
quitted it, without regret, and steered, for the neighbouring
island, which, as has been mentioned, we discovered
three days before.